Art of manufacturing ice



May 12, 1925 O. LUHR ART OF MANUFACTURING ICE Original Filed July 11,

1921 :5 Shets-Sheet 1 r A Til 67 0% 0 ZZa/%7j 7 ,2, 6 I,"

May 12, 1925.

O. LUHR ART OF MANUFACTURING ICE ri n l Fil July 1, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 12, 1925.

o. LUHR ART OF MANUFACTURING ICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 11, 1921 i atented May 12, 3.3 2215.

ti i liil ifiii STATES OTTO LIFER, OF CHICAGO, l LLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO L'UHR & EBIEDL, A PARTNEESI-EIP CONFUSED F OTTO LUZ-IR AND HERMAN FIR-ZEDL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ART 0 MAEUFACTURIHG ICE.

Griginal application filed July 11, 1921, Serial No. 433,988. Dividedend this application tiled September 20, 19%.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. l, ()rro LUIIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Art of hlanufactnring Ice, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, more particularly, to ice-making apparatus of the type employing a tank containing a fluid as, for example, brine. cooied by artificial refrigerating 'ineans, and cans for receiving the water to be frozen into cakes. extending into the brine, the cans being; removable from the brine. and transportable to a point. of dumping. after which they are again charged with water and returned to place in the brine tank for freezing the contents of the cans, the cans being adaptedv for the introduction into the *ater of air for agitating the water; this application being a div ion of niyapplication for United States Patent, Serial Number 433.938, filed July 11, 1921.

My primary object is to avoid the presence of moisture in the passages through which air passed to the water in the cans, at the portions of these passages which are subject to a temperature sulliciently low to freeze. water therein.

te'l'erring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure '1 is broken away. of an ice-making apparatus suitable i'or practicing my improved method, the wall of the building in which the apparatus is housed being shown in section. Figure 2 a similar view with substantially all of the apparatus removed and showing, in plan. the brine tank and circulating means therefor and also the dippingtank. Figure 3 is a broken. enlarged. section.

taken at the line i- -3 on Fig. l and viewed in the direction oi the arrows. Figure 4 is a broken. enlarged. sectionjtaken at the line lb-"i on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Figure 53 is an enlarged, broken flew in elm'ation. with certain parts sectioned. of one of the similar-batteries of ans employed. Figure G is a section taken at the line -G on big. .3 and viewed,- in the direction of the arrows; and Figure 7v. an:

enlarged, broken, plan view-of a portion of one o! the similar batteries of cans showing; it as located in the brine tank, and the air a plan view, 'ith certain parts Serial No. 738,80'Z.

supply means for these cans connected with the air-line. 1

As is customary in ice-making plants, the apparatus is located in a building the walls -of which are represented at l5, l6, 1? and 18, a transverse Wall 19 dividing the space within the building into the two compartments 20 and 21, the compartment 20 containing, in the particular construction shown, substantially all of the ice-making apparatus, and the compartment 21 representing that portion of the building into which the ice is discharged preferably for transfer to anotherpoint.

The compartment 20 is provided with the brine-tank represented at 22-, this tank, employed in apparatus of this general type, in accordance with common practice, containing a partition 23 extending lengthwise thereof and having angularlygdisposed portions 24- and 25 spaced. "from the ends of the tank 22 with openings 26 in the walls 24 and 25 adjacent to which propellers 27, shown as operated by electric motors 28, are posi tioncd. through which openings the brine is free to circulate under the action of the propellers, the arrangement shown permitting of the circulation of the brine as illustrated by the arrows in Fig.

Further, in accordance with common practice. the brine tank 22 contains a series of parallel pipe coils which extend lengthwise or" the tank 22 and are located a distance apart slightly greater than the width of the cans hereinafter described at their narrowest dimension this series of pipe coils being represented at 2%). These pipe coils, which extend within a short distance of the top of the brine tank 22. are provided for the circulation theretln-ougrh of any suitable refrigerating medium. such as ammonia. supplied thereto in any suitable manner, as is common in constructions of this general character for maintaining the brine at the desired temperature i'or freezing the water in the cans hercina Yter described.

The cans in which the ice is formed are ri-preseetwl at no. these cans being; provided H. a series o i' rows. the rows extending cross wi e ol' the length of the compartment 20, ii being. preterred that each row comprise of the cans 30, these cans extending into the brine in the tank 22 located,

respectively, in the spaces provided between the ipe coils 29, as-shown more particularly ranged in parallel relation near the top thereof and serving as supports for the cover sections 31 in accordance with common practice.

In the particular arrangement shown the cans 30, forming each transverse row thereof, are so related to other parts, hereinafter described, that each row of cans constitutes a battery which may be removed from position in the brine tank and transferred to the thawing tank and thence to the dumping means as a unit, and returned as a unit to position in the brine tank,this being provided for in the particular construction shown' by providing at each side of each transverse row of cans a bar 32 which exerabl rigid y connected together, in any suitable tends crosswise of the tank '22 and of the es 29,these' bars containing downwardly- ?ning notches 33 at'which they straddle t e upperportionsof the refrigerating pipes 29 as illustrated in Fig. 3. Each pair of bars 32, for the transverse rows of cans, are connected together at their opposite ends by cross-bars 34, the bars 32 and 34c being prefof such thickness, and sufficiently manner, as to provide a rigid framework, through the medium of which the several batteries of cans .referred to may be bodily lifted from the brine tank and returned thereto. The frameworks, cans, and other parts carried thereby, as hereinafter described, are preferably of such weight that when the cans are charged with water to be frozen therein for forming the cakes of ice, the cans will be submerged to the desired depth in the brine; and as a desirable means for positioning the cans ,in the brine at the desired depth the inwardly-projecting ledges 35 are provided on the side walls of the tank 22, these ledges being shownas comprising angle irons secured to the side walls and upon which the frameworks rest.

The cans 30, constructed preferably of relatively thin sheet metal in accordance with common practice, taper toward their? lower ends as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, their upper edges being provided with reenforcing bands at their outer surfaces and represented at 36, these bands projecting outwarclly from the cans and forming downwardly-facing shoulders surrounding the cans. The frameworks referred to and formed of bars 32 and 34, are also provided at intervals with cross-pieces 38 formed of substantially Z-shaped bars [connected at their flanged ends 39 to the inner surfaces of the opposed bars 32 and so disposed that a plurality of openings through the frameworks are provided for the several cans 30, the cans being supported at opposite sides thereof at the shoulder portions 37, on the frameworks, as shown in Fig. 6. Certain of the bars 38 are provided with. upwardlyextending eyes 38 to serve as points of connection for the hooks provided on-the depending elements of cranes commonly em ployed forconveying the cans in apparatus of this general character Each battery of cans is provided with a which connect with nes 47 and 48 containing check valves which open toward the cans, the casings of these valves being represented at 49 and 50, respectively. The extremities of the pipes 47 and 48 are provided for connection with air-conducting pipes hereinafter referred to. adjacent each can is equippednvith a depend ing' branch pipe 51, the lower end of which opens intothe adjacent can 30 at a point closely'adjacent to the bottom wall of the can. The pipes 51 are shown as each formed of two sections. a. lower section 52 and an upper section 53, the section 52 being supported on the can through thel inedium of strapso l secured thereto in any desirable manner, as for example by soldering them in position on the can, and the section 53 being preferably formed of radially deflect able material as, for example, copper, being connected at its lower end with the upper The pipe 4 lll) end of the pipe section 52 at a union 55 and at its upper end with the coupli 1g 56 interposed in the pipe 4-0 and provide with a needle valve 57 ofany suitable construction and through the medium of which communication between the pipe 40 and the pipe 351 may be controlled, to regulate the amount of air supplied to the pipe 51.

It may be here stated that the purpose of the air pipes referred to is to supply air to the interiors of the cans thereby to effect a degree of agitation of the water in the cans 30 sufficient to insure the production of in the clear ice, the air, for this purposg, b

, eing particular construction illustrate supplied from an air-pipe 58 extending lengthwise of the compartment 20 and supplied with the desired amount of air pressure, as from a compressor of any desirable construction, represented at 59. the pipe 58 being provided at intervals along its length with branch pipes 60 corresponding in number with the number of transverse rows of cans 30, and also provided with a branch pipe 61 intermediate its ends equipped with a flexible hose connection 62 having a man ually-controlled valve of any desirable construction, represented at 62. The branch pipes 60 are each provided with a valve 63, these branches being provided for connection with the several pipes 40 at the portions 48 of the latter, as by means of flexible pipe connections. one of which is represented at 64. The flexible pipe 62 is provided for connection, successively with the portions 47 of the pipes 40, for a. purpose hereinafter described.

The compartment 20 contains at one end thereof, the left hand end in Fig. l. a thawing tank which is represented at 65, the top of this tank containingan opening through which the battery of cans is lowered. to cause the cans to extend into the thawing water contained in the tank and therch v break the bond between the ice cakes and he interior surfaces of the cans for the purpose of permitting of the discharge of the cakes of ice from the cans by gravity, as for example in the dumping operat o hereinafter referred to.

Located beyond the dipping.. or thawing. tank 65 isduinping mechanism adapted to receive the cans of ice, the cakes in which have been thawed therefrom. as stated. and move the cans to a position in which the cakes of ice may slide therefrom to a suitable point of discharge. Where means for this purpose are provided they may be of any desirable construction. Those shown comprise, generally stated. a tiltable holder 66 of angle-shape in cross-section adapted to receive the battery of cans and be. tilted downwardly to the left in Fi". l to, a position in which the cakes of ice in the battery of cans may..slide therefrom by gravity to the left in Fig.- 1 and through the closure.- cquipped opening 67 in the partition 19. the \akes of ice thus discharged passing into the compartment 21 from which they may be removed in any desirable way.

Any suitable means for charging the cans with water from which the ice to be formed may be provided. So far as my present invention is concerned. these cans could be charged with the water from which the blocks of ice are to be formed. by filling the cans by hand or by any suitable filling apparatus such. for example. as is commonly in use and involving a series of water receptacles corresponding with the number water, into a of cans to be charged at a time with from which receptacles pipes extend position for discharging the water therefrom into the several cans, valve means being provided for controlling the discharge of the water into the cans, the arrangement being such that these water pipes extend into a position above the cans when positioned on the rocking holder and correspoiiding with the. holder (36.

The operation of the apparatus is as fol lows. It may be stated as a premise to the description of the operation that the batteries of cans are withdrawn from the brine tank in succession, it being designed that one battery of cans be withdrawn from the brine tank. thence moved into the thawing tank. thence carried to the dun'iping holder for discharging the cakes of ice therefrom. the cans being charged with wate at this point. following the dumping operation stated, and then returned to the brine. tank. before any of the other rows of cans are disturbed. and after this operation has been completed the next row of cans are similarly operated on. and so on throughout the series of rows until all of the cans thereof have been emptied of the cakes of ice contained therein, and are charged with water and replaced in the brine tank. the laying out of an apparatus of this kind preferably conten'iplating continuous operation thereof upon the basis of the period required for forming the cakes of ice corresponding with the length of time required to accomplish lini the dumping and retilling with water. of all.

of the rows of: cans. The withdrawing of a battery of the cans is edccted by engaging therewith, at the eyes 228*. the depending hoisting hook-cquipped elements of the crane usually employed in ice-making installations and which would be located in tlic upper portion of the compartment ill and be movable in the latter in a substantially horizontal plane. and in the operation ol the. crane to hoist the elements referred to.

the can-suppin'ting framework and with it the several cans forming the battery thereof supported by this frame work. would be elevated. 'lhe craneis then operated to carry the battery of cans to the thawing tank (35. the operator first having disconnected the pipe 40 from the pipe 5.; at the Section 54. the valve. 6?) having been pro viously closed and the flexible pipe (if! l\;i\'-" Ill) to remain in this tank until the ice has been cans and position them on the holder 66,

sufliciently thawed to break the bond between the ice and the cans, whereupon the crane is again actuated to lift the battery of the holder occupying the position shown in Fig. 1. The hoisting hooks of the crane would then preferably be disengaged from the eyes 38* and the holder then rocked downwardly to the left in Fig. 1 to a position in which the cakes of ice may slide by gravity from the, cans through the opening 67 in the partition 19. The holder is then returned to normal, upright, position in which the cans extend substantially up right. The operator then charges into the cans the desired amount of water for forming the ice cakes therein.

The battery of cans having been filled with water, the crane is again attached thereto and the battery of cans carried b the crane to the portion of the brine tan from which the cans were removed, and the cans then lowered to position in the brine. The main air-pipe 40 of this battery of cans ,is then connected at its portion 48 with the air-line pipe .58, by means of the adjacent coupling-pipe 64, the valve 63 thereof then opened, and thereafter the valve 62 closed and the pipe 62 disconnected from the pipe 40. The pipe 62 is then connected with the next row of cans in whichthe ice cakes are formed, the valve 62 opened, the hose 64 disconnected and the valve 63 closed. this battery of cans then lifted from the brine tank, carried to the thawing-tank and thence to the holder 66 where they are dumped and;

afterwards re-filled with water, whereupon the charged cans are returned to position in [connection with the first row of cans operated on; and so on throughout the entire series of rows of cans, and by the time the last row of cans has bgen dumped and returned to the brine ank, charged with water, the first row of cans is ready to be again dumped and the operations stated are continued. i

The purpose of supplying air to the cans as stated, whereby air is continuously supplied to the cans, is to'insure against the flow of water into these air-pipes, it being understood that if moisture exists in these pipes, at the portions thereof subjected to the action of the brine, accumulations of ice will be formed therein either partly or wholly insured during all stages in the operation the air to the cans during the charging of .the latter with water is an advantage, as

thereby any stoppage in the air-pipes may be quickly determined and the blowing out of the accumulations in the pipes quickly effected, and where repairs are discovered to be necessary such may lie-expeditiously ei fected, as compared'with the case where the cans have been introduced into the brine tank before the air connections are made which latter practice is theone now commonly followed.

While I have illustrated and described a particular apparatus for practicing my'inr proved method, and have. described the method as practiced in a certain particular way, I do not wish to be understood as in tending to limit it-thereto as the invention may be practiced by other apparatus and the method otherwise practiced, without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In the art of making ice in which the ice cakes are formed in movable cans having and whlch pipes open into the interiors of the cans and are subjected therewith to freezing temperature, the method of producwater-agitating air pipes carried thereby ing the ice cakes and preventing-the closure of the pipes to the through by thefreezlng of water in said pipes, which consists in subjecting the cans to a freezing temperature and supplying to the pipes air under such pressure and assage'of air theree throughout such period that passages for the I air through the pipes will be continuously maintained throughout the period said pipes are subjected to the freezing temperature while any part of the Water remains unfrozen. j

2. In the art of making ice cakes are formed in movable cans having water-agitating air pipes carried thereby" and which pipes open into the interiors of the cans and are subjected therewith to freez- 'ing temperature, the methodof producing the ice cakes andpreventing the closure ofthe pipesto the passage. of air therethrough ll r ice in which the by the freezing of water in said pipes, which i consists in sub ecting the'eans toa freezing temperature and supplying" continubusly .tothe pipes during their s-ul'ijection'to freezing temperature While any part of the water remerge re mains unfrozen, air under such pressure that air passages therethrough will be continuously maintained.

3. In the art of: making ice in which the ice cakes are formed in movable cans having water-agitating air pipes carried thereby and which pipes open into the interiors of the cans and are subjected therewith to freesthe ice cakes and preventing the closure of the pipes to the passage of air therethrough by the freezing of water in said pipes, which consists in subjecting the cans to a'freezing temperature, su plying to the pipes throughout those perio 5 during which Water would flow into the pipes, air under such pressure that the water will not enter saici pipes.

4:. In the art of making ice in which the ice cakes are formed in cans movable into and out of a brine tank, the cans hevin water-agitating air pipes carried thereby on which pipes open into the interiors of the cans and are subjected therewith to freezing temperature, the method, of producing the ice cakes and preventing closure of the pipes to the passage or air therethrough by the freezing of water in said pipes, which consists 1n supplying the cans with weten'subjecting the cans to freezing temperature, and

supplying continuously from the beginning of the water sup iying operation to the con clusion of the reezing' operation sir at 8, pressure sufficient to prevent the entry of water into the pipes.

5. In the art of making ice in which the ice cakes are formed in cans movable into and out of a brine tank, the cans havin water-agitating pipes carried thereby 1.111% which pipes open into the inteiriorsof the cans and are subjected therewith to freezing temperature, the method of producing the ice cakes and. preventing the closure of the pipes to the passage of air therethrough by the freezing of water in. said pipes, which consists in supplying the cans with water,

. subjecting the cans to freezingtemperature,

111g temperaturgthe method of producing and suppiying air continuously during repeated complete operations of manufacturing ice cakes, at a pressure sutiicient to prevent the entry of water into the pipes.

6. in the artof making ice in which the ice cakes are formed in cans movable into and out of a brine tank, the cans having water-agitating pipes carried thereby an which pipes open into the interiors of the cans and are subjected therewith to freezing temperature, the method of producing the ice cakes and preventing closure of the pipes to the passage of air therethrough' by the freezing of water in said pipes, which consists in supplying" the cans with Water, when removed from the brine tank, subjecting the cans to freezing temperature, and supplying continuously, from the beginning of the water supply operation to the conclusion of the freezing operation, air at a pressure sufficient to prevent the entry of water into the pines.

l. The method of menufecturing ice which consists in churging wziter into the can in which ice is to be formeii freezing the water therein, and thereefterduniping the ice cake from the can end recharging the can with sister to he frozen to form another cake therein, end. continuously supplying air uncier pressure to the interior of said can during ail of said operations.

.8. The methori of manufacturing ice-whic consists in charging watefii-nto a can having an air passage and in which can the ice is to be formed, freezin the water therein, thawingthe' ice cake to\ reek the bond between it and the can and thereafter, dumping the ice cake from the can end recharging the can with water to be frozen-to form another cake therein, and continuously supplying the water agitetin air to the interior 0 sci can during e1 of saici operations, under such pressure as to prevent she entry of. water into the air passage.

o'rro Lune. 

